San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-12-19
val erie.
or,
HALF A TR ] T H .
By "THE DUCHESS. "

81 must go and speak TO Colonel Beaure
gard. have met him before, you know"
Even as she spoke and moved-still
leaning on Lord Darnleigh's arm-toward
the entrance, Max Beauregard, scare
twenty PAGES from her, turned and saw
her-the Fairy Queen; and all else besides
people and scene, vanished, and left her
standing there alone, queen lily and rose
in one, " in the glory Of her loneliness, with
CLEAN of satin and silver, and fire of flash
ing jewels. Yet he had never had every
nerve under more perfect command as he
went forward to meet her, and hand clasp
ed hand
1t was a supreme moment for both, yet
both were calm and self-possessed. If the
clasp of Max Beauregard's hand seemed
to the girl to stop the very beating of her
heart, she gave no sign if her touch made
every nerve in the. mans frame culver,
every pulse bound, neither voice nor man
ner betrayed him.
81 am SO glad to see you again" he said
genuine pleasure, but no more, in the soft
rich voice. that was always ringing in heI
ears. II left you scarcely on the threshold
of Fame, and come back to find you in
the citadel"
"Oh, Colonel Beauregard," Valerie an
swered, glancing up, with the old, quick.
wistful look, into the handsome face-she
had not dared to meet his eyes full-"sucb
a compliment sounds almost like irony
from one of the Egyptian heroes. l must
congratulate you-not you me. And let
me-" she went on, a little hurriedly, lin
troduce you to Lord Darnleigh, though il
is scarcely necessary, turning to the young
nobleman.
Scarcely" said he, smiling, and hold
ing out his hand instead of the forma
bow, "since everyone knows Colonel Beau
regard. wonder if you are half as glad
to be home again as we are to see you heref'
Thanks" said Max, ''for the last assur.
ance. am sure we have all good cause to
like returning to old England, for the sake
of the warm welcome we get everywhere
"You will have to be little merciful on
other fellows D." said Lord Darnleigh, laugh
ing. 1--WE are nowhere with the ladie.
now. The old case is reversed, and the
Egyptians are despoiling the Israelites!'
ABR retorted Beauregard, but we
have to make up for lost time. For nine
months and more you have had the field a.
to yourselves"
Ppm afraid you have the best of it, and
/ am not ashamed to surrender to soldier
who has compelled surrender from hun
dreds," said Lord Darnleigh, bowling
Miss Herbert, they are forming now.
Shall we join them?"
Colonel Beauregard bowed, and turned
away, and Valerie and her partner Joined
the dancers.
WAS Valerie changed to him?" Max
Beauregard asked himself again and again,
while he talked to his partner-a pretty
countess, who would ask questions about
the campaign.
Her greeting had chilled him to the
heart, though he had thought he had
schooled himself to be fully prepared to
find great difference between the inno-
cent child he had left and the prOtege Of
wealthy Mrs. Langley-the dirG of the
London season.
The result proved how impossible 1t is
for worldly wisdom TO thoroughly prepare
us for the casting down of an idol. True,
Valerie had seemed pleased to see him, but
no more than If he had been an acquaint-
ance Of the season; and there was some
thing conventional in both the matter and
manner Of her answers to his first words
to her that Jared like false chord on the
mans whole being. In his bitter pain he
hardly remembered how comparatively
cold his own greeting had been. Was
what he had heard of Valerie true? His
brief experience seemed to cast sinister
light on the statements which he had tried
to believe greatly exaggerated. Was she
learning too surely the lesson taught her
by precept and example, that hearts were
nothing in the scale against diamonds He
seemed to her the experienced Mayfair
campaigner
with little hoard of maxms preaching down
daughters heart"
Preaching, maybe, to willing listener.
Valerie was but child; it would be strange
indeed if she had withstood the over
whelming influence of her surroundings;
if she had not been make giddy by the
height Of the pinnacle on which she was
placed. Be it remembered that Max Beau
regard had not seen enough of Valerie to
enable him to fathom her nature; but his
passionate love for the girl fought against
the miserable doubt that oppressed him.
He would not-nay, he could not-judge
her hastily. Time and opportunity would
show whether she was indeed changed.
"Do you admire that girl in pale pink,
Colonel BeauregardS" asked the Countess,
as she sat eating an ice, her companion
standing by.
"She has just passed by with Dallas of
ours' Yes, very much. Who is shef"
"Amy LinwOod. She and Valerie Her
bert are great friends"
Beauregard looked with more interest
after Miss Linwood
II seem to know the name, " he observed.
~ of
Mrs. Linwood is a charming woman, am
told Ali there is Miss Herbert dancing
with Mr.. Lawford. How badly he dances
and how perfectly she does! A splendid
match"
81 thought you said it was bad one"
For life mean, You tiresome fellow"
1T is a match, them"
well, | believe so-everyone says So
and he might marry peers daughter If
he chose. Lady Stonend tried very hard
to get him for one of hers: so did the March
ioness of Fashmore. or course the girl
could be peeress; but Aston Lawford can
buy up most of us. So l suppose she has
become reconciled to the front"
Didn't she like it at firsti"
The countess laughed.
mo; used to call him the iron man. so
have heard. dare say you think it intra
dig, with your military prejudices; and
you Beauregards are as proud as High
landersi"
81 am content to plead guilty; but as to
Mr.. Lawford, apart from the iron, my
brother knows him better than I do Ibe-
lieve / met him once"
'And that is the cool way you talk of a
man worth millions!-at any rate over
millinn-fnr whom all the pirls and vnnnn